I just posted the last chapter, I am so sorry I thought I posted it weeks ago!!!! sighs I am an idiot.

Bobby: We already knew that

Get back in your box ROBERTA. I really shouldn't let her out any more.

Anyway

Chapter: 5

Marshall tapped his pen nervously. It had been a few weeks since Vaughn's 'revelation', Marshall had abandonned his friends to stick with Vaughn, nobody else was going to help the guy out at this point in time, were they? Madison had laid off when it came to the comments…. She still disliked Josie but… she seemed to know she'd overstepped her mark. Josie tended to hang out with Lucas and Corrine and nobody else. She was six months on.

"Well… I say we should tell her what we know." Marshall said.

"And I say we shouldn't… If she really does believe it's me…"

"And what if she has been…you knowed…" He didn't want to say the 'R' word. "She'll want to call the police."

"If she wanted to she would've done by now!" Vaughn reasoned.

"Not if she's scared Vaughn." Vaughn glared.

"Who's scared?" Corrine asked bobbing her head around the door. "Marshall your brother's here…. Says he wants to talk to you."

"Grant?" he looked puzzled and glanced nervously at Vaughn.

"I'm fine." Vaughn muttered bitterly. Marshall stood up and left. He was a little confused when Corrine didn't. She just stood staring at Vaughn.

"Are you crying?" she asked eventually. Well that took a 172 IQ! Some genius she was.

"No!" Vaughn said wiping his eyes furiously. There was another option to the Josie thing…. But he didn't want to think of it.

"Good, because whatever you're feeling right now, imagine how she feels!" Then she flounced off. Corrine was very good at flouncing off, it was an attribute all her own, she'd perfected it down to an art.

She knew just how to hurt someone. And always had done, but now she'd come out of her shell….it was much easier.

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Josie decided that she'd gone off the name Jackie. She liked many other names too.

"I'm exhausted." She said flopping onto the sofa beside him.

"I can only imagine." Lucas said. "Mum got like that,"

"That's a new one." Josie mumbled.

"What is?"

"Oh it's just the first time you've ever spoke about your mum." Josie said flicking her hair as she stared at the list of names.

"Never mentioned her?" Lucas said looking slightly confused. He was sure he had…. He'd told Marshall at any rate…and most likely Corrine. It must've been before Josie had come to Blake Holsey, it wasn't really that long ago but it seemed like an eternity.

"She died…." He muttered.

"Mind if I ask how?" She asked. It may have been morbid curiosity, it may have been concern, it may have been Josie being Josie but she didn't like the answer.

"She died in childbirth."

"I'm sorry." She muttered. "So you never knew her? Same with my dad."

"Oh I knew her…. She died with the twins, not me."

"The…"

"I'm not an only child, I have two nine year olds. One girl one boy…."

"Oh, I always imagined you to be an only child." She said. She knew it must seem stupid because he'd never claimed to be an only child but she couldn't picture Lucas bossing around two nine year olds, it was then she realised the kids probably bossed him around.

"You and your imagination." He laughed and ruffled her hair. She sighed and lay her head against his chest.

"I'm so sleepy." He wrapped his arm around her to let her sleep. She smiled gratefully.

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"What did Grant want?" Vaughn asked curiously.

"He's heard about Josie." Marshall sighed.

"From who!"

"Your dad…. He wanted to know if I had anything to do with it and If I did… As he so graciously reminded me…. Mum'd 'Fry me.'"

"My dad has a big mouth." He muttered, Marshall sat down and stared Vaughn square in the eye.

"So do you…. and I do too. I can't keep this from Josie. You understand right?" He stood up to leave.

"I guess… Hey Marshall?" He called Marshall back.

"Hm,"

"Thanks… for believing me." He finished.

"Sure thing." Marshall winked and walked off. He wasn't pleased to be the one to have to tell Josie as she was liable to throw things, hit people or both.

"Hey Jos… Oh." Lucas raised a finger to his lips. Josie stirred but stayed asleep. She'd been like that for ages and it suited Lucas just found. He wished they weren't getting that close under such circumstances though.

"What did you need to tell her?"

"Nothing important." He smiled at her and brushed a bit of her hair behind her ear "She looks so innocent when she's sleeping."

"She is innocent." He mumbled defensively.

"Yeah right," Marshall laughed. Lucas glared furiously at him silencing him. "Listen…man. We've been through a lot over the past few months."

"And even more to come." Lucas muttered rubbing Josie's arm gently. She murmered and buried her head further into his shoulder.

"Listen Lucas, you and me, we'd still tell each other everything right? Even though we're a little distant?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"Then you'd tell me if…" Marshall took a deep breath. There was no easy way to say this. "You'd tell me if you were Josie's baby's dad right?"

"What!" Lucas looked really angry. He tensed so much Josie stirred again. "Of course I'm not. If I were I wouldn't leave her high and dry like he did." Marshall sighed.

"Vaughn had every right to act like he did."

"What! You can't seriously stand by what he did." Lucas looked really hurt.

"I can because… It's not Vaughn's baby." Lucas gave a jolt and Josie winced horribly.

"Of course it is."

"It's not. Either… Either Josie doesn't know….or she's lying." Marshall explained.

"She wouldn't." Lucas felt Josie's hand tighten on his shirt. She was gripping him hard. He knew full well she was awake.

"Listen, I think you should leave."

"Lucas…"

"Just leave!" Josie cried out.

"Josie! I didn't…. I didn't know you were awake." Lucas glared at his best friend. How could he do this to Josie? She was the injured party. Marshall took the not so subtle hint and ran out of the room. Josie wasn't crying, but she was holding onto Lucas very tightly.

"You don't think it… could be true?" he asked her nervously.

"Part of me thinks it's completely impossible. But that little part inside is just wondering. What if he's not?"

"I don't know." Her grip loosened.

"I just want out of here." She whispered. She then said it again even louder. She stood up and walked out. Lucas breathed heavily. It was gonna be a long day.

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"What're you doing?" Corrine asked as Josie tore into the room. "Don't run like that, it's not safe for you."

"I'm passed caring Corrine." She pulled all her stuff off shelves.

"Again- what're you doing?" She asked curiously.

"Leaving! I'm entitled to three months leave. I can't face Vaughn right now."

"Vaughn, oh what's he done now?" Corrine asked haughtily. That boy was nothing but trouble to Josie Trent she'd have been better off if she'd never met him.

"Everything." She mumbled slinging her bag over her shoulder. She'd fit her whole life at Blake Holsey into two duffel bags. Wow.

"Josie, where will you go?" Josie didn't answer but walked out of the room. She was down the stairs as Corrine got to the top.

"Josie!" She yelled down the stairs. "I said you have nowhere to go!"

"Yes she does." Lucas said clapping his phone shut.

"She's right…" Josie muttered nearly dropping her bags. She felt dizzy.

"Sit down, don't run around." Corrine ordered hopping down after her.

"I just rang my dad, you can stay with him."

"What?"

"What, no: 'thank you Lucas,' 'you're an angel Lucas'?"

"No I'm just shocked that's all."

"He doesn't bite. And contrary to popular belief neither do the twins…" He hesitated. "most of the time." Josie laughed. She stood up and wrapped her arms around Lucas.

"Thank you." She whispered in his ear.

"You just take care of yourself." He told her supportively. "Like you always do."

"And be sure to write." Corrine said joining in the hug.

"And ring when you go into labour." Marshall added. The three turned to face him. Lucas looked nervously at Josie.

"Can't shoot the messenger." Josie muttered beckoning him forward. She gave him a quick hug. Not too much because although she wouldn't ever shoot the messenger, she would injure him if he miffed her off anymore.

"Adios." Corrine said tearfully noticing Lucas's dad's car outside.

"Oh don't you'll set me off." Josie whined. The gang walked outside.

"You must be Josie." Lucas's dad said. He was looking at Corrine.

"No, this is Josie." She answered pointing at Josie.

"Hello Mr Randall." She put on her brave face. "Thanks for letting me stay."

"Anything for a friend of Lucas's." He assured her. "Are you ready to go only I have to pick the twins up in an hour."

"Um… I think I am." He looked around the floor as if searching for a shoe lace she'd misplaced. She turned to her friends all stood on the steps. Even Z had come out.

"We'll see you in three months." He told her. She smiled and hugged him.

"Thanks for understanding." She gave everyone a hug then had to put her maths head on. "One, two, three, four, five....six."

"What?"

"Shadows." She said looking slightly perplexed. Then she realised why. Vaughn was stood behind everyone. Lucas looked livid. He looked ready to tear Vaughn's head off. Josie held up a hand to stop Lucas's violent attack.

"I'm… taking my maternity leave." She said quietly.

"I can see that. Were you even going to consult me?" He asked looking slightly hurt.

"You said you didn't want anything to do with me!" Josie protested.

"No. What I said was…"

"You said the baby isn't yours. You carry on believing that. We'll know for sure in three months so…" Josie took a deep breath. "I seriously cannot believe I'm doing this." She extended her hand. He didn't take it. She waited for almost a minute before realising he wasn't going to. She bit her lip and turned away.

"Goodbye." She said finally.

"Josie, Wait." He pulled her back and hugged her gently. "No matter what I'll always love you okay. I just can't be with you." Josie listened to the words with half a heart. She wanted to believe them but this was the man who'd take everything from her. Or at least Josie thought he had. Now there were fresh doubts in her mind.

"Sorry to rush you…" Lucas's dad said. "But the twins DO need picking up from school." Josie pulled away shooting Lucas a glance that clearly said 'Don't….'

"Coming." She collected her duffel bags and climbed into the back of the car.

"A word of advice?" Suggested Lucas's dad as she strapped herself and baby in.

"Hm?"

"Don't look back." She did as she was told and stared out the front window and a second later she was gone. She'd left.

Vaughn took a deep breath and sat down. Marshall looked from Corrine Lucas and Z to Vaughn looking broken on the step. He made his choice. He stepped away and sat beside Vaughn.

"Dude, you said yourself, the kid's not yours." He placed his hand gently on Vaughn's shoulder.

"I was so sure…" he murmered.

"Now you have doubts?"

"No… I was so sure this was what I wanted." He answered "When I first found out I thought, I wished she'd just leave and I'd never see her again. I… I don't want that."

"She'll be back in three months."

"In three months it'll be too late."

"Too late for what? Oh come off it you don't seriously think you can win her back."

"I… I don't know." He sighed and raked his fingers through his hair. He was surprised when an extra shadow loomed over. Corrine sat beside him. She was very tearful.

"I…don't blame you." She said in tears. He looked up at her and smiled. "We're…we're all in the same boat now."

"What about in three months time, when she gets back with… with the baby?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it." Professor Z said. Lucas was the only one who didn't join. He wasn't about to console the man who'd left his crush high and dry up the duff.

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"Dad! Nathan pulled my hair!" Screamed a little girl running towards them. Her brown hair flying behind her.

"Milly scratched me!" The little boy beside her protested he sported a small red scratch on his cheek which he was pointing at furiously.

"Welcome to the family Josie." Laughed Lucas's dad. He wrapped his arm around his little girl then clapped his son on the shoulder.

"Who's she?" Nathan asked staring at Josie. He had messy dark brown hair and glasses that made him look intelligent. He looked just like Lucas. Josie was almost taken aback by the likeness.

"Nathan, don't be rude. Hello I'm Melissa Randall." The girl extended her hand. Josie shook it.

"Josie Trent. I'll be living with you guys for a few weeks."

"But you're pregnant." The boy said.

"Of course she is genius." Melissa groaned. "I apologise for my dim-witted brother."

"Come on car, all three of you."

"Okay, Sorry Mr Randall." Josie apologised.

"Call me David, Josie." He assured her.

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"Josie, phone." Nathan said handing her the receiver.

"Who is it?"

"Lucas."

"Already! Man, let me get on my feet first." Josie said in disbelief. Honestly, if today was a foreshadow of the next three months she wanted to get back in the shade.

"Hello?"

"Hey Josie?" His voice was a little crackly, the phone was pretty old.

"No, It's Melissa." She said sarcastically.

"Put Josie on."

"Oi!" She protested angrily.

"Sorry, Thought you oughta know. Corrine and Marshall are friends with Vaughn and he's back in the science club."

"Really, cool. I'm glad everything's getting back to normal."

"What! You're supposed to be angry."

"When have I ever got angry?" She asked cheekily.

"He's the guy who's turned his back on you and his child Josie."

"Yeah well… I sort of understand it, I get the feeling I'd turn my back on me too…"

"Josie… you grew up without a dad, now your daughter has to aswell…" Josie gulped back her tears. Touched a nerve he did.

"I turned out fine, Didn't I?"

"Of course you did but… Josie." He breathed heavily down the phone. "I really like you."

"I know." She whispered.

"No…I don't mean as a friend I mean… Josie I L… I love you." How many guys were going to say that to her today!

"No you don't!" She said viciously. "Don't say it if you don't mean it Lucas."

"I mean it Josie. I love you." Josie bit her lip thinking there was probably more to it than that. "I'm willing to take on the responsibility of the baby Josie."

"Don't! Lucas you're 16! I'm tied down, you don't have to be."

"It's not being tied down."

"What happened when you turn 20… you fancy some lass… yet you can't go because you're baby sitting another mans kid."

"I don't care Josie. I won't be interested in the girls when I'm twenty." He said earnestly.

"You will. Thanks for the offer. But I'm fine. Not every kid needs a father. Bye Lucas. Will you be okay?"

"I just had my heart ripped out. Of course I'm not okay. Bye." The phone bleeped.

"I think the question is…will you be okay?" Asked David putting his phone down on the arm of the sofa.

"No… Wait a minute! you were listening!"

"He's my son Josie… Of course I listened." He sighed. "When Jan died… I thought the world would end. The only thing that kept me going was Lucas. Bless, he was only about 6…7 ish. He pretty much kept the house running until I got back together. Then the kids started to ask questions. Who was there mum? I broke down every time they asked. So Lucas fielded the questions 'She was brilliant. She was loving caring and loved all three of us very much" Then he got a place at a boarding school. But I coped. Because Lucas had built up the image of their mother. What about your baby, when she grows up and asks who her dad is…"

"I can't tell her. The guy who I thought was her dad says he isn't…"

"Well… even if he wasn't. She had the opportunity to have a dad then… and you denied her it."

"What you WANT Lucas to be tied down?"

"Lucas doesn't want the baby. He wants YOU. He wants you so badly he'd take you baggage and all. Wether you decide on him or not, when the baby's born I think…"

"I think he should be godfather. I decided that a while ago." She smiled rubbing her stomach. He could never be the father of her baby. But he'd make a hell of a good godfather she was sure.

But one question remained: Vaughn? Was he lying to her?